Need some feedback from anyone who has repaired the inner fender and core support under the battery tray. Have a 71 Skylark and purchased the Radiator support kit, bushing set, and inner fender repair panel. What else do I need. Does the fender have to be removed?? What is involved, what should I expect??? Jay
The core support definately needs to be out of the car to repair it. that will make it alot easier to manage and line up. As for the inner fender it also should be off the car too. I have done several of these and as a bodyman's point of veiw off the car is the only way. I know that makes it harder in one way but it will be easier in the end.
Jay How rotten is your existing parts? Are some of the common mounting holes in the inner fender and the radiator support still visible? My rad support was gone past the up turn where the headlamps are. My inner fender still had some battery tray mount holes intact, but most were gone. I put the new patch panel on top of the existing rotten area on the inner fender and aligned the holes that were still intact with the patch panel. Then I clamped it in place with several vice clamps. I used a sawzall and cut thru both panels just about 2" above the up turn on the inner fender. When the clamps are removed, it leaves a perfect, flush fit where the new panel butts up with the old panel. I clamped the two in place and gave about 6-8 quick "BZZT" tacks along the parting line to hold it in place. I spaced out the "BZZT"s every few inches. When I got to the other end, I'd go back to the starting side and split the distance between the last tacks with new tacks. The tacks should be no bigger than a bb. Just keep tacking until the whole thing is covered. This stops the panel from heat warping. Once good and solid, I installed the rad support and the newly repaired inner fender to use as a guide to align the rad support patch. Once aligned, I cut it the same way(the rot was actually longer than the patch in some areas). I removed the support and tacked it together per the instructions and reinstalled to verify that the support and inner fender would align. Once I was certain, I welded everything and did the filler work. Looks great. The very edges of both patches may require some filing to blend them together. It took me about a day to to cut, fit and weld and another to do the mud work. Take your time and check and recheck your work BEFORE you weld. Hope this helps.
http://mrbuick.com/core.htm shows a support that was not too bad so I only needed a section. Use the kit as much as you need or as little. Either way its a patch panel its designed to be sectioned in as needed.
I have a complete body shop and it took me 4 hours to do a side ..not including removing the fender .You need a welder,grinder,primer,bondo and usually a friend taking the fender off and holding the hood is a pain.
